Confusion Surrounds Seizure of Iraqi Mosque

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040820/wl_nm/iraq_dc_334

<snip>
NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq (news - web sites)'s interim government said it had defused a Shi'ite rebellion in Najaf Friday without a shot being fired, but rebel militiamen denied police had seized the city's sacred Imam Ali Mosque from their control.

<snip>


Amid the extraordinary confusion over a two-week rebellion that has killed hundreds and driven world oil prices to record highs, the United States military said it could not confirm the government had won back the shrine peacefully.


A senior Interior Ministry spokesman said police entered the shrine and arrested hundreds of militiamen.


Any bloodless seizure of the mosque would be a major political victory for interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who since taking over from U.S. occupiers on June 28 has struggled to stem an insurgency and now a Shi'ite revolt in eight cities.


But soon after the seizure was announced, a senior Sadr aide said the statement was false.


"The shrine is in the control of the Mehdi Army," said Sheikh Ahmad al-Sheibani, a top militia commander. "The Mehdi Army will resist any attempt by the Iraqi police to control the shrine."

[yellowcanine]

1. This should be easy to clear up - get some reporters in there. If they

can't get clearance to enter the area from the Iraqi government, it's a good bet the government is lying.

[daleo]

2. Excellent idea

Therefore the BFEE and their puppets will never do it.

[jayfish]

6. "An AFP Correspondent In The Shrine ...

said he had not seen a single policeman.


On the contrary, he said fighting continued to rage on the south side of the Old City between the militiamen and US-backed forces that have surrounded the shrine compound.


In Washington, a US defence official also strongly rejected the claims of Iraqi spokesmen.


"Not a lick of truth to it," he said. "We are still outside of the shrine, and so are the Iraqi police."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1504&ncid=1504&e=1&u=/afp/20040820/ts_afp/iraq_040820160246


Jay

[Beetwasher]

3. My! What A Conundrum!

Who to believe? Bush stooge or religious fanatic? :shrug:

Smart money's probably on the fanatic...A Bush stooge is almost guaranteed to be lying...

[CaptainClark23]

4. whappen?!

"the United States military said it could not confirm the government had won back the shrine peacefully."

uh, why not? Don't we have troops and hardware surrounding the entire area?

"DogDish to Rover 10...uh, take a look in the binoculars, tell us if you see any Iraqi cops in the Shrine. Get back to us and let us know, ok? DogDish out."

sheesh

[robcon]

5. What?!?! Confusion in War? Competing claims?

Sounds like par for the course.

We won't know what's happening for days.